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Footballer Adam Johnson convicted of child abuse

Ex-England and Sunderland footballer Adam Johnson was convicted of child abuse by a jury at Bradford Crown Court on 2 March 2016.

He had previously admitted grooming the girl and one charge of sexual activity but the jury also found him guilty of one charge of sexual activity. The girl was an avid Sunderland fan and Johnson had used this to groom her and then sexually assault her.

Judge Jonathon Ross has indicated that Johnson faces a jail sentence and initial indications are that this will be a 5 year prison sentence.

Johnson was sacked by Sunderland after he admitted on the first day of his trial that he had kissed the girl but there are concerns that the football club knew about the abuse much earlier but continued to employ